Saturday, May 8, 2010

Mother’s Day... (yes, a day early!)...

Every year
on Mother’s Day we pack up the kiddos, a picnic, some sand toys and the
dog and we head out to Prelude Lake for some family fun.

Yesterday it was a bit cool out but we
didn’t let it stop us. We pulled into the park and we built
sandcastles, slid down the slide and kicked a soccer ball around. We had
our picnic snack and then headed off on our hike!

The last time Andrew and I took this
hike was on Claire’s EDD. I can’t describe how it felt to be back...
bittersweet, I guess? However just as we pulled up to the staircase to
begin the hike a Mourning Cloak butterfly fluttered by! It swooped in,
did a few loops and then flew into the trees. There was my sign that
Claire was around to spend the day with us. Ahh...

We had a nice short hike stopping
along the way to take pics of our goofy little kiddos. Once we reached
the lookout the kids went off to explore and then Andrew went to join
them. I had a little time to myself and have to admit I shed a few
tears. This was supposed to be my first Mother’s Day as a mother of 4. I
should have had Claire wrapped around me in a Snuggli. Our family
picture should have one more child in it. And then I shook myself out of
the what ifs...

We came home and had a nice dinner and
then Molly told me to wait downstairs while she prepared something for
me in my room. I heard water pouring and the microwave on and heard talk
of pillows and oven mitts and baby powder?! I wasn’t sure what to
expect!!

I was invited up to my room about 20
minutes later and entered “Molly’s Spa” which offered a water/baby
powder hand wash, a rolling back massage courtesy of William, giggles
courtesy of Matthew, and a hot rock and upper back massage by Molly, all
accompanied by the sweet sounds of Andrew and mine’s wedding song (on
repeat!).

At one point all of the kids, Andrew,
and I were all laying on the bed together and it was quiet and tears
rolled out of my eyes onto my pillow. It was a beautiful way to end the
day off with my family... just sad knowing that another little one
should have been laying on the bed with us.

Oh, Baby Girl, I missed you so much
today. How can a mother truly celebrate Mother’s Day without ALL of her
children with her? Your daddy, sister and brothers really did make the
day special for me in every way that they could...